Followers

23 Feb 2013

The first relationship that little girls will form with a member of
the opposite sex is the one that they have with their father. This
relationship is also one of the most influential and important of a
young girl’s life, as it often shapes the ones she builds with other
boys and men as she ages. Here are 10 of the reasons why all fathers
should have date nights with their daughters, starting when they’re very
young and continuing as they get older.

To Get to Know Them – Children change and evolve
quickly; their interests and favorite things can differ wildly from one
day to the next. Keeping up with these rapid shifts can be difficult for
fathers who aren’t actively participating in their daughters’ lives
with regular one-on-one time.

To Keep Up With Events and Developments – While the
latest playground news or mall gossip might not be the most interesting
thing for a father to listen to, it’s a great way to keep up with the
things that matter in his daughter’s life. By listening to the little
events and exciting moments, dads can help their daughters understand
how valued they are.

Because They Have Siblings – When little girls are
forced to share their parents’ attention with their siblings, feelings
of jealousy and rumblings of rivalry can begin. By making the effort to
spend time with each child individually, dads can make their daughters
feel as if they are the center of the universe for a little while, which
is something that every child needs from time to time.

Because They’re Only Children – Little girls
without siblings may not ever fully understand the jealousy that comes
with being forced to share Daddy’s attention, but they still need some
just-the-two-of-us time away from the distractions of everyday life.

To Form Positive Ideas About Men and Relationships –
The relationship a girl has with her father will lay the groundwork for
every relationship she has with men for the rest of her life. By taking
the time to ensure that there’s a strong foundation, fathers can also
ensure that their daughters never feel as if they need to seek
validation from men that they feel they missed from their father as they
move into adulthood.

To Give Mom a Break – When it comes to parenting
girls, mothers often bear the brunt of training a little girl to be a
strong woman, while fathers are free to dote on them a bit more. By
taking girls on outings, dads can give Mom a much-needed break while
also boosting his daughter’s self-esteem

Starting a Tradition – By beginning a tradition of
spending time together and talking openly during a girl’s formative
years, dads are actually investing in the future. Establishing a line of
communication during childhood can help teenage girls feel comfortable
talking about the pressures and challenges they face as they grow older;
building this relationship after a certain age is significantly more
difficult than it is when girls are small.

Because Dad Works Outside the Home – Fathers who
work long hours outside the home may not return until late in the
evening on work nights, leaving little time for bonding during the week.
By setting aside a block of time specifically to be spent with their
daughters on days off, dads can maintain an active presence in their
lives.

Because Dads Need Love, Too – As much as little
girls need to feel loved and valued by their fathers, dads crave
affection and camaraderie with their daughters too. Though date night is
a strong investment in a girl’s future, it offers immediate rewards for
dads who need to know that they’re still the most important man in
their daughter’s life.

To Bond Over a Shared Interest – During the course
of their outings, dads and daughters are likely to discover that they
have at least one common interest. By spending time pursuing these
hobbies together, fathers and daughters are also creating a bond that
will last a lifetime.

Structuring one-on-one time doesn’t have to be modeled after a
parenting textbook; instead, find a system that works for your family
and establish your own traditions.

4
comments:

I love that my husband has special dates with our daughter. He also does this with our son, but we call that "man time." Either way, it's good for each child to get one-on-one with their Dad. I've also read that women who have closer relationships with their fathers when they are young are more successful as they get older. This supposedly is because they feel permission to have success in a male-dominated world. I don't know if I buy into that totally, but I appreciate the special time my husband and I are each able to spend with our children—individually and together.

This post resonated with me and is part of why when I do bedtime with my daughter it takes me way longer than when my wife does it. It's our time for her to tell me any and everything on her little mind. Without fail, something comes out that I didn't know, sometimes good and sometimes not so good but always good to know.

Good for you EB.It's comforting to know that there are some great dads out there, and it will pay off in the long run as well.Girls with strong connections to their fathers tend to find better and more stable partners.